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Bio

Early experiences with clay as a child apparently left a mark. After school, apprenticeships and more school, making pots was, is and will continue to be a way of life. I’ve been a studio potter for nearly 40 years now, living and working in Arizona for much of that time. My work as a professional has always been low fire earthenware. For many years my Raku pots were shown nationally. The influences are scattered from the Southwest, Africa and Japan to the cultures of the Mediterranean. A museum full of 2000 year old pots in Rhodes was an epiphany. Simple forms with no contrivance or pretension filled room after room. I hope to make one like that before I’m done. Seeing those pots 20 years ago started this current evolution. It began with soft muted colors, totally classic shapes.

Amphora, ewers, and jugs with an ancient feel. Then, textured pots with extravagant handles, spouts and flourishes using brushed color. Over the last 20 years the current body of work has evolved. Hot colors, simple closed forms with very controlled textures dominate.

High fire porcelain and white stoneware have now been added to the mix. This work is completely different from the earthenware .Different clays, firing and extravagant decorating techniques give homage to my influences and work from the from the past with a whole new level of skills and maturity.

The last piece finished today, good, bad or indifferent is the product of doing the work for many years. These pieces can’t be made without those experiences, successes and failures, lots of failures. Even after 40 years, everyday in the studio is an adventure; I’m looking forward to working tomorrow.

Artist Statement

Form is everything; I stretch clay to make canvases for decoration. Texture, pattern and color are successful additions when the shapes are impeccable. My inspirations are many, from the classic forms of antiquity to the simple, graceful pots made by indigenous peoples and the work of modern studio potters.

This current body of work deals mostly with simple clean form. Dramatic color, graphic pattern and subtle texture accentuate what I hope is a mastery of the traditional vessel form regardless of the clays and firing. 

Technical Description

Thrown earthenware, with layers of textured slip, colored slips and oxides.Multiple gas or electric firings in oxidation to cone 03 or approximately 2000F.

Also Cone10 reduction, gas firings to 2350F. with Porcelain and White Stoneware. 

Exhibitions (selected)

June 2023                     One Man Show. Schaller Gallery. Baroda. MI
May 2023                      Vessels and Vanishing Points. Edgewater Gallery. Middlebury, VT.
April 2023                      Ceramic Invitational. Radius Gallery. Missoula, MT.
February 2023               Soft, Stoic, Strong. 3 Man Show. Schaller Gallery. Baroda. MI
October 2022                 Elemental, Ceramics Monthly Juried Group Show.  
March 2022                   Vegetailia Invitational Schaller Gallery, Baroda. MI
March 2022                   Exquisite Forms Invitational. Charlie Cummins Gallery, Gainesville,FL 
May 2021 Off Center, International Ceramic Invitational. Blue Line Arts. Roseville, Ca.
April 2021 Form and Function Invitational.  Applied Contemporary Gallery Oakland, CA.

March 2021                         

 Clay Today Invitational. Shemer Art Center. Phoenix, AZ.
March 2021                           Playing With Fire. National Invitational Saratoga Clay Arts Center. Saratoga, NY
Sept 2020                            Intimate Object. Carlie Cummings Gallery. Gainesville, FL.
Sept 2020                           KC Clay Guild Teabowl National, Kansas City.MO (Purchase Award)
July 2020                             Off Center. International Ceramics Competition. Blue Line Art Center. Roseville, CA
June 2020 14th Annual Yunomi Invitational. Clay Akar. Iowa City. IA
June 2020                            “Drink Up” Juried Competition. Common Wheel Art Center. Manitou Springs, Co.
February 2020                    “The Discovery and Invention of Color” Two Person Show Tohono Chul Park. Tucson, AZ.
January 2020                       “Southwest Rising” Contemporary Art and the Legacy of Elaine Horwitch. Tucson Museum of Art
December 2018                    Ceramic Invitational. Mesa Community College, Mesa,AZ.
February 2018 Mesa, AZ.39th Annual Contemporary Crafts. Mesa Arts Center. 
February 2018 Sonoran Seasons Invitational. Tohono Chul Park. Tucson, AZ.
October 2017 Contemporary Ceramics. West Virginia University. Morgantown,WV.
September 2017 "The Art of Containment", Flint Institute of the Arts. Flint, MI.
May 2017 Two Man Show. Gallery Chiz. Pittsburgh, PA.
April 2017 "Abstract Arizona" Tohono Chul Cultural Ctr. Tucson, AZ.
January 2017 "Red" Group Invitational. Lovitt's Gallery. Tulsa, OK.
January 2017 "Rewind" Group Invitational. Clay Art Center. Port Chester, NY.
February 2017 " Textural". Group Invitational. Schaller Gallery. St Joseph, MI
October 2016 "TCA Juried Biennial: Clay" Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe, AZ.
August 2016 "Workhouse International Ceramics Competition ".Lorton Arts Center. Lorton, VA.
August 2016 KC Potters Guild "Teabowl National" Kansas City, MO.
July 2016 "Teapot Invitational" Chautauqua Art Institute, Chautauqua, NY.
June 2016 "Fahrenheit" Lovitt's Gallery. Tulsa, OK.
May 2016 "All Arizona Clay" Shemer Art Center, Phoenix, AZ.
April 2016 "21st Annual San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, San Angelo, TX.
October 2015 "Small Works Invitational" Tohono Chul Cultural Ctr. Tucson, AZ.
July 2015 "Celadon and Temoku" Schaller Gallery, ST. Joseph, MI
May 2015 "Focus on Form" Schaller Gallery, ST. Joseph, MI
May 2015 "The Yunomi Invitational" Akar Design, Iowa City, IA.
May 2015 "The Sky Above" Invitational. Tohono Chul Cultural Center., Tucson, AZ.
April 2015 "Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future" AMOCA, Pomona, CA
March 2015 "Line and Pattern" Schaller Gallery, St. Joseph, MI
May 2014 "Rare in OC Invitational" City of Brea Art Gallery. Brea, CA.
April 2017 "Abstract Arizona" Tohono Chul Cultural Ctr. Tucson, AZ.
January 2017 "Red" Group Invitational. Lovitt's Gallery. Tulsa, OK.
January 2017 "Rewind" Group Invitational. Clay Art Center. Port Chester, NY.
February 2017 " Textural". Group Invitational. Schaller Gallery. St Joseph, MI
October 2016 "TCA Juried Biennial: Clay" Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe, AZ.
August 2016 "Workhouse International Ceramics Competition ".Lorton Arts Center. Lorton, VA.
August 2016 KC Potters Guild "Teabowl National" Kansas City, MO.
July 2016 "Teapot Invitational" Chautauqua Art Institute, Chautauqua, NY.
June 2016 "Fahrenheit" Lovitt's Gallery. Tulsa, OK.
May 2016 "All Arizona Clay" Shemer Art Center, Phoenix, AZ.
April 2016 "21st Annual San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, San Angelo, TX.
October 2015 "Small Works Invitational" Tohono Chul Cultural Ctr. Tucson, AZ.
July 2015 "Celadon and Temoku" Schaller Gallery, ST. Joseph, MI
May 2015 "Focus on Form" Schaller Gallery, ST. Joseph, MI
May 2015 "The Yunomi Invitational" Akar Design, Iowa City, IA.
May 2015 "The Sky Above" Invitational. Tohono Chul Cultural Center., Tucson, AZ.
April 2015 "Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future" AMOCA, Pomona, CA
March 2015 "Line and Pattern" Schaller Gallery, St. Joseph, MI
May 2014 "Rare in OC Invitational" City of Brea Art Gallery. Brea, CA.
April 2014 “Yunomi Invitational” Akar Design. Iowa City, IA.
January 2014 “Drink This” National Juried Competition. Lorton Arts Center. Lorton, VA.
January 2014 Featured Artist. Schaller Gallery. St. Joseph, MI
December 2013 “White” Group Invitational. Telluride Gallery of Fine Art Telluride,CO.
October 2013 “Small Works Invitational” Tohono Chul Cultural Center. Tucson, AZ.
March 2013 “Green” Group Invitational. A Gallery. Salt Lake City, UT
January 2013 “100 Teapots VI” National Juried Show. Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
October 2012 “Iron” Schaller Gallery. St Joseph, MI.
July 2012 “External Views” Group Invitational. Red Star Studios, Kansas City, MO.
July 2012 “Workhouse Clay National” Juried Competition.Lorton Arts Center. Lorton, VA.
July 2012 “Contemporary Ceramics” Group Invitational. Tohono Chul Cultural Ctr. Tucson, AZ.
September 2011 “Exposed” American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
September 2011 “Uncommon Ground” NCECA Invitational, Arvada Center for the Arts., Arvada, CO
July 2011 “Out of the Blue” Chautauqua Center for the Visual Arts. Invited Artist
November 2010 “Small Works Invitational” Ferrin Gallery, Pittsfield, MA.
October 2010 “One Man Show”, Patina Gallery Santa Fe, NM.
October 2009 "Studio Pottery Invitational", Ferrin Gallery, Pittsfield, MA,
September 2009 "NAU Biennial" Northern Arizona University Art Museum. Flagstaff, AZ.
April 2009 Featured Artist, Sky Harbor Airport Museum, Phoenix, AZ
February 2009 "Patchwork" National Invitational Armstrong's Gallery, Pomona, CA.
March 2009 Ink and Clay 35, National Invitational, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, CA
January 2008 "29th Annual Contemporary Crafts" National Invitational ,Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ
June 2008 National Teapot Invitational, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor , NC .
November 2007 "Steeped in Tradition " National Teapot Invitational, Ariana Gallery, Royal Oak, MI
January 2007 "100 Teapots III" National Invitational, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore, MD
January 2007 "28th Annual Contemporary Crafts" National Invitational ,Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ
October 2006 "Vessels" National Invitational, CCSU , New Britain, CT
October 2006 "Blue Grass Clay National" Yeiser Art Center, Paducah, KY
March 2006 Featured Artist. Obsidian Gallery. Tucson, AZ.
September 2005 Arizona Clay Invitational, Phoenix , AZ. (Best of Show)
September 2005 Wichita National Invitational. Wichita Center for the Arts. Wichita , KS . (Purchase Award)
August 2005 Clay National. Carbondale Clay Center, Carbondale, CO
July 2005 Chautauqua Center for the Visual Arts " The Art of Craft in America " invited artist.
July 2005 National Teapot Invitational. Vessel Gallery. Huntingdon Valley , PA
June 2005 "Pots Objects Of Virtue" National Juried Exhibition. Walnut Creek, CA (Juror's Award)
June 2005 National Teapot Invitational, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor , NC .
December 2004 Featured Artist. Andora Gallery. Carefree, AZ.
July 2004 "Bottles, Jugs and Mugs" National Invitational, Saratoga Springs , NY
June 2004 Featured Artist. Del Mano Gallery. Los Angeles, CA.
May 2004 "From the Ground Up" Invitational. Museum of Fine Art. Las Cruces, NM
April 2004 Kiln God National, San Angelo Museum of Art, San Angelo TX. (Purchase Award)
March 2004 Featured Artist. Del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
January 1994                      One Man Show. Del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
September 1993                   One Man Show Elaine Horwich Gallery, Santa Fe , NM .
July 1991                              One Man Show, Running Ridge Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.
November 1990                    One Man Show, Del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
October 1989                       Primitive Fire, The Clay Pot, Brooklyn , NY .
October 1988                       Black and White, The Elements Gallery, Greenwich, CT.
March 1988                         Southwest Invitational, Craftsman’s Gallery, Scarsdale , NY .
March 1988                          One Man Show, River Run Gallery, Ketchum, ID.
October 1987                       One Man Show, Wallengren USA, New York, NY
August 1987                         One Man Show, Aspen Mountain Gallery, Aspen, CO.
June 1987                             Stars and Stripes, Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA.
August 1985                         One Man Show, Lodestone Gallery, Bolder, CO.
December 1984                    One Man Show, The Hand and The Spirit, Scottsdale, AZ.
January 1984                       One Man Show, Beyond Horizons, Scottsdale, AZ.
July 1983                             Contemporary Crafts for the Collector, Gallery Eight, La Jolla, CA.
Fairs and Festivals (selected) I retired from the art fair business in 2014
March 07,08,09 La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, CA. (Best of Fine Craft 08)
March 92-94, 06-14 Scottsdale Festival of the Arts, Scottsdale, AZ ( Jurors Award 06,09)
Dec.2005 Crafts at the Castle, Boston, MA.
July 92-4, 05,6 7,9,11,12,13 Cherry Creek Festival of the Arts, Denver, CO.
April 2005, 06 Palm Beach Fine Craft Show, Palm Beach FL
September 2004 St. Louis Art Fair, St. Louis, MO.
October 2004,05 Westchester Craft Show, White Plains ,NY
November 1994,2004 Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Philadelphia, PA
November 92-94 04, 05 Washington Craft Show, Washington, DC
April 1994 Smithsonian Craft Show, Washington DC.
May 1991, 1990 American Craft at the Armory, New York, NY.
Publications (selected)
  • American Craft, Architectural Digest, Ceramics Monthly, House Beautiful, Metropolitan Home, House and Garden, Lark Books, Luxe Magazine, Potters Council, Phoenix Home and Garden, AZ Republic, New Times, The New Yorker, New York Times, New York Times Magazine, Quattro Books, Scottsdale Republic, Phoenix Magazine. 
Permanent Collections (selected)
  • AT&T, Arizona State University Art Collections Ceramic Research Center, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Bank of Denver, Coopers and Lybrand, MCI, Qwest, Saks Fifth Avenue, Blue Cross Blue Shield Of AZ, Tokyo Ana Hotel, Tokyo Intl. Airport, Chase Bank, Stouffer’s Hotels, Hughes Aircraft, Boise Art Museum, Marshall Fields, Rouse Company, Westin Hotels, Wichita Center for the Arts, University Hospitals, Cleveland, OH Flint Institute of the Arts. Flint, MI. Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Museum. Phoenix,AZ. Hilton Hotels Shanghai.  
  • Museum of Texas Tech University.
Guest Lectures
  • Featured Artist Scottsdale City Channel.
  • Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.
  • A.S.U. Ceramic Research Center.  
Honors
  • 2009 Artist Project Grant, Arizona Commission for the Arts
  • 2008 Award Presentation, Arizona Governors' Arts Awards
  • 2015 Craftsman Extraordinaire, American Craft Week
Education
  • B.F.A. Arizona State University, 1981. Summa cum Laude

Nick in Fiji 10.12.12